Eros Project: Overview

The Eros Project

Overview

Image, Courtesy of NASA
Gravity Map, Asteroid 433, Eros

Eros is a near-Earth asteroid of significant value. It is the second largest asteroid in the vicinity of Earth. Eros is in a very stable orbit around the Sun and poses no danger to Earth, whatsoever. It is relatively easy for spacecraft to travel to 433 Eros from the Earth.

Central to the success of the Eros Project is Orbital Development’s present ownership of the entire property. A prime focus of the Eros Project is leveraging Orbital Development’s present equity value of the property into development capital for building the improvements to the property.

Size:
33 km x 13 km x 13 km
(20.5 mi x 8 mi x 8 mi)

Approximate mass:
7.2 x 10^15 kg
(79.2 trillion short tons; a short ton is 2000 pounds)

Available Resources
With an total mass of about 79.2 trillion short tons, it has a very significant ‘futures’ value for "in space" construction and propulsion materials. A mining survey has revealed that the elements aluminum, iron, potassium, magnesium, silicon, and large amounts of oxygen are available resources. The Eros Project will establish a futures market for these materials.

Data, Courtesy of NASA
Spectral Analysis of Eros Surface Elements

Living on Eros
In addition, radiation-safe habitable volume will be a very valuable commodity in Space, later this century. Outside of the Earth's protective magnetic field the Sun's radiation is damaging in its intensity. As mining occurs on Eros, the voids that are created will be ideal places for people to live in Space. Sheltered from solar radiation by many meters of solid rock, people will find that Eros is a desirable place to live, work, and play in the second half the 21st century. A futures market will also be developed for these prime properties inside of Eros.

Fifty Year Development Scenario
On each pole of Eros' spin axis, the Project will dig two large caverns. One will be a large circular trench that will house a MetroCircus colony city, which will be the inhabited capital city of 433 Eros. The city will be well shielded from solar radiation and be a comfortable place to live with at least .40 artificial gravity at the outermost living deck. In honor of his historic first human spaceflight, the city will be named GAGARIN.

The other shielded pit will be used as a shipyard to construct hulls for additional MetroCircus and O'Neil Space cities, large oxygen tankers, and spaceship hulls. These products will be for sale as the colony's major exports. The shipyard will be named ARMSTRONG BAY.

Large solar concentrators will be used to smelt and refine materials. Export products are expected to be refined magnesium, aluminum, silicon, oxygen, and iron. It is probable that platinum, gold, iridium, and other "rare earths" metals will be processed for export.

A corridor will be mined along the spin axis, which will become the main throughfare between Gagarin and Armstrong Bay. As mining progresses, branch tunnels and caverns will be constructed for industry, storage, and recreation.

Video, courtesy of NASA
433 Eros has a 5-hour day.

I picked up a pebble on the beach in front of the Stars,
How can it not be mine?
Just see how many pebbles there are for you.